Revelation Of The Cross

ILLUSTRATION:

I’m a little like the duck hunter who was hunting with his friend in a wide-open barren of land in southeastern Georgia.

Far away on the horizon he noticed a cloud of smoke. Soon, he could hear the sound of crackling. A wind came up and he realized the terrible truth: a brush-fire was advancing his way.

It was moving so fast that he and his friend could not outrun it. The hunter began to rifle through his pockets. Then he emptied all the contents of his knapsack. He soon found what he was looking for-a book of matches.

To his friend’s amazement, he pulled out a match and struck it. He lit a small fire around the two of them. Soon they were standing in a circle of blackened earth, waiting for the brush fire to come. They did not have to wait long. They covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and braced themselves. The fire came near-and swept over them. But they were completely unhurt. They weren’t even touched. Fire would not burn the place where fire had already burned.

The law is like the brush-fire.

I cannot escape it.

But if I stand in the burned-over place, where law has already burned its way through, then I will not get hurt.

Not a hair of my head will be singed.

The death of Christ is the burned-over place.

There I huddle, hardly believing yet relieved. Christ’s death has disarmed the law.

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1. THE DARKEST EXHIBITION OF MAN’S SIN

Acts 4:27–28 KJV (WS)

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

2. THE BRIGHTEST DISPLAY OF GOD’S LOVE

1 John 3:16 KJV (WS)

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

3. THE GREATEST WITNESS OF SATAN’S DEFEAT

Hebrews 2:14 KJV (WS)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

4. THE MIGHTIEST WORK FOR MAN’S SALVATION

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV (WS)

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.